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After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and HourDivision, AHS Cushing Hospital LLC — operating as Hillcrest Hospital Cushing — has paid $30,488 in back wages and liquidated damages to 12 employees to resolve violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Investigators found that the employer, a subsidiary of Ardent Health Systems, automatically deducted 30-minute meal breaks from employees’ work time regardless of whether they actually took those breaks. The employer violated the FLSA when it failed to pay employees for time they spent answering phones and continuing to perform their regular job duties through their scheduled breaks, the labor department said. The employer violated FLSA record-keeping provisions by failing to keep accurate time records, officials said.

“Healthcare workers play a vital role in our society and must be paid for all the hours that they work,” said Michael Speer, wage and hour division district director. “Other employers who automatically deduct break time from their employees should use the outcome of this investigation as an opportunity to evaluate their own practices to ensure they comply with the law. Employers can avoid costly violations like those in this case.”

OKLAHOMA CITY

Hough Ear Institute scientists sell hearing loss drug

Scientists from Oklahoma City-based Hough Ear Institute (HEI) have agreed to sell their hearing loss drug known as NHPN-1010 to Oblato Inc.

Hearing loss is commonly caused when repeated or overpowering noise energy causes the ear to act like an engine in overdrive, which causes toxins to accumulate in the sensitive sensory cells and nerves of the inner ear. NHPN-1010 short-circuits this cascade of events and soaks up the harmful toxins, officials said.

HEI and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) jointly discovered the NHPN-1010 technology and licensed it for commercial development in 2010.

As part of the recent agreement, Oblato is expected to initiate a phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the potential of the drug to prevent and treat hearing loss. Follow-up studies may test efficacy for treating tinnitus and improving ability to understand speech in the presence of background noise.

Hiring begins at Frontier City

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Frontier City opens March 14, and the search for 600 team members to fill positions from now through January 2021 is underway. The theme park’s employment center is open and ready to offer on-the-spot interviews to fill positions in more than 20 departments.

Frontier City on Saturday will begin the search with a job fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Frontier City. Those interested in attending can apply online or at the park. The park will also will play host to hiring events and onsite recruiting throughout the Oklahoma area at about 50 high schools, colleges and special events.

Applications and additional information are available at sixflagsjobs.com.

Love's employees to volunteer on Valentine's Day

Employees of Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores will volunteer at locations in Oklahoma City and Moore for the company’s annual Share the Love event, officials said.

The event will take place Friday at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, the Moore Food & Resource Center, the Tuscany Village Nursing Center, Brookdale Village Assisted Living Center and the Central Oklahoma Humane Society.